Bill gives WWII veteran a dignified burial

Published: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 9:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 9:50 p.m.

In his youth, Lawrence Davis Jr. shared an experience known to some 16 million American men: serving in the military during World War II.

But it was his lonely death and even more isolated emergence into the public eye that has left a legacy ensuring no future veterans will share his ultimate fate.

On Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Dignified Burial and Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012, a bill designed to provide an appropriate burial for veterans who die without next of kin or sufficient means to pay for a funeral.

The House’s 393-0 vote, which followed a unanimous vote by the Senate, directs the bill to President Barack Obama’s desk for signature.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, after it was learned that Davis’ remains had been buried in a cardboard box in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

According to U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent’s office, Davis, who had served in the Army as a private, went missing in 2002, and his remains were discovered in Highlands County in 2004.

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and medical examiner were able to determine Davis was a veteran and that he had no relatives to claim his remains.

The remains were subsequently shipped by a funeral home to the national cemetery for burial in 2005.

Davis’ remains were unearthed as headstones were raised and realigned during a routine maintenance process.

The national cemetery is in Nugent’s district, and the congressman learned during an investigation into the discovery that cemetery administrators believed the cardboard box contained cremated remains, rather than a skeletal one, and accordingly interred it in a section of the facility designated for that.

Nugent discovered from discussions with Department of Veterans Affairs officials in Bushnell and Washington that the agency lacked concrete authority regarding the disposal of veterans who die without having family members.

Had Davis died in a VA hospital, under the VA’s policies, the government would have provided a casket or urn.

But in cases like his, where there is no family or funds to see to a proper disposition, the outcome is left to authorities and funeral directors.

Although VA officials characterized such cases as rare, Murray was moved by Davis’ incident and sought to rectify the situation with a bill directing the VA to furnish a casket or urn of “sufficient quality” for a “dignified” burial of impoverished veterans without families in a national cemetery.

Nugent, a Brooksville Republican whose district includes most of Marion County, had co-sponsored a similar measure in the House.

“This would have been appalling to me if it had happened anywhere, but it was particularly disturbing because this veteran had been buried in the district that I represent,” Nugent said in a statement on Monday.

The congressman added that he felt a “personal responsibility” to make sure such a thing didn’t happen again.

“I am very proud to see that even with all of the dysfunction going on in this mess of a place we call Congress, people still have the ability to come together and pass some commonsense legislation,” said Nugent, who was recently named to the House Armed Services Committee.

“The members of the United States military volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom and our way of life. These individuals and their families make extraordinary sacrifices for the good of this nation and we owe it to them to see that our veterans are laid to rest with all of the dignity and respect that a grateful nation owes them.”

“With the passage of this legislation, we can ensure that even in cases where a veteran has no known next-of-kin, somebody will be there to make sure that the arrangements are made appropriately on his behalf. This legislation is long overdue and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to play a part in setting it right.”

<p>In his youth, Lawrence Davis Jr. shared an experience known to some 16 million American men: serving in the military during World War II.</p><p>But it was his lonely death and even more isolated emergence into the public eye that has left a legacy ensuring no future veterans will share his ultimate fate.</p><p>On Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Dignified Burial and Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012, a bill designed to provide an appropriate burial for veterans who die without next of kin or sufficient means to pay for a funeral.</p><p>The House's 393-0 vote, which followed a unanimous vote by the Senate, directs the bill to President Barack Obama's desk for signature.</p><p>The bill was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, after it was learned that Davis' remains had been buried in a cardboard box in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.</p><p>According to U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent's office, Davis, who had served in the Army as a private, went missing in 2002, and his remains were discovered in Highlands County in 2004.</p><p>The Highlands County Sheriff's Office and medical examiner were able to determine Davis was a veteran and that he had no relatives to claim his remains.</p><p>The remains were subsequently shipped by a funeral home to the national cemetery for burial in 2005.</p><p>Davis' remains were unearthed as headstones were raised and realigned during a routine maintenance process.</p><p>The national cemetery is in Nugent's district, and the congressman learned during an investigation into the discovery that cemetery administrators believed the cardboard box contained cremated remains, rather than a skeletal one, and accordingly interred it in a section of the facility designated for that.</p><p>Nugent discovered from discussions with Department of Veterans Affairs officials in Bushnell and Washington that the agency lacked concrete authority regarding the disposal of veterans who die without having family members.</p><p>Had Davis died in a VA hospital, under the VA's policies, the government would have provided a casket or urn.</p><p>But in cases like his, where there is no family or funds to see to a proper disposition, the outcome is left to authorities and funeral directors.</p><p>Although VA officials characterized such cases as rare, Murray was moved by Davis' incident and sought to rectify the situation with a bill directing the VA to furnish a casket or urn of “sufficient quality” for a “dignified” burial of impoverished veterans without families in a national cemetery.</p><p>Nugent, a Brooksville Republican whose district includes most of Marion County, had co-sponsored a similar measure in the House.</p><p>“This would have been appalling to me if it had happened anywhere, but it was particularly disturbing because this veteran had been buried in the district that I represent,” Nugent said in a statement on Monday.</p><p>The congressman added that he felt a “personal responsibility” to make sure such a thing didn't happen again.</p><p>“I am very proud to see that even with all of the dysfunction going on in this mess of a place we call Congress, people still have the ability to come together and pass some commonsense legislation,” said Nugent, who was recently named to the House Armed Services Committee.</p><p>“The members of the United States military volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to protect our freedom and our way of life. These individuals and their families make extraordinary sacrifices for the good of this nation and we owe it to them to see that our veterans are laid to rest with all of the dignity and respect that a grateful nation owes them.”</p><p>“With the passage of this legislation, we can ensure that even in cases where a veteran has no known next-of-kin, somebody will be there to make sure that the arrangements are made appropriately on his behalf. This legislation is long overdue and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to play a part in setting it right.”</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or at bill.thompson@starbanner.com.</i></p>